APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA

This week there is a retiring collection for Stella Maris, Apostleship of the Sea, the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church. It supports seafarers both practically and spiritually. As we celebrate Sea Sunday today, the church prays for all those who live and work at sea. Without them, we would not have most of the items we rely on for daily living and that help sustain our population and economy. Stella Maris supports seafarers both practically and spiritually. To assist this Catholic ministry, you might also wish to send your donation to: https://stellamarisaustralia.org/sea-sunday-appeal/

.... Women in the Aran Islands, the Orkneys and Hebrides were also deeply worried about on-board safety and seaworthiness. They became famous for knitting woollen jerseys for their seafaring fishermen brothers, husbands and sons. Each woman, each family, had a unique pattern knit into the jersey. As we buy their exquisite work today, often in very expensive shops, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the women were thinking, not only of the warmth of their menfolk, but also planning that, if their loved ones were to be lost at sea, their families could eventually identify them. Today’s seafarers still face uncertainty and, frequently, extreme hardship. A young kitchen worker on a luxury cruise ship described earning less than £1 per hour for her illegally long shifts. Sailing in international waters, who checks on a crew’s working conditions? (Majellan’s Living Word)